The AIB has published the first phase of its recommended strategic plan for how local school districts should implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
The Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) is tasked with overseeing the implementation of Maryland’s major education policy reform initiative known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The AIB has published a draft of its Comprehensive Implementation Plan to guide Blueprint implementation over the 10-year implementation period and to hold State and local entities accountable for successful implementation.
The Comprehensive Implementation Plan, published October 26, follows a series of Blueprint Implementation Planning working sessions held by the AIB over the summer and early fall after the original timeline was pushed back via 2022 legislation in order to allow the AIB more time to develop its plan.
The AIB website states:
The Maryland General Assembly approved an updated timeline for developing and adopting the Comprehensive Implementation Plan as part of House Bill 1450 in the 2022 Regular Session. The timeline identifies activities associated with drafting the Comprehensive Plan, gathering public input on the draft plan, and adopting a final Comprehensive Plan by December 2022.
Notable in the draft Implementation Plan is a March 15 deadline for local education agencies (LEAs) to submit their implementation plans to the AIB for review and approval.
The draft Comprehensive Implementation Plan also includes details on expected outcomes and measurements of them for each of the five pillars of the Blueprint and their respective objectives. Notably, however:
The plan does not specify how State and local entities will or should implement the elements of the Blueprint that they are responsible for implementing, although it does include key requirements for successful implementation as outlined in the Blueprint law or based on insights and feedback from AIB members, State and local education leaders and stakeholders, and the public.
The draft plan also includes details on implementation requirements and guidance for each of the five pillars, including some suggested responsibilities for county governments and local education agencies (LEAs). Some examples are included below.
Next steps
A public hearing on the draft plan is scheduled for November 10. Stakeholders can use this form to submit feedback on the draft plan ahead of the November 10 meeting.
The AIB is then expected to vote on a final plan and set of recommendations and then submit them to the governor and General Assembly by December 1, ahead of the 2023 legislative session. More information on the upcoming timeline can be found online and is summarized here:
Finalize Comprehensive Plan
The AIB will adopt the final Comprehensive Plan by Dec 1, 2022.
The final Comprehensive Plan will include a timeline with key year-to-year milestones for implementing the Blueprint law. Once the AIB has adopted the Comprehensive Plan, it will:
-
Create guidelines for State and local agencies to follow in developing and submitting their own Blueprint implementation plans;
-
Hold State and local agencies accountable for fulfilling their identified responsibilities by reviewing and approving their policies, plans, and practices for compliance with the Comprehensive Plan;
-
Monitor implementation on an ongoing basis;
-
Gather and analyze data that shows how implementation impacts student performance over time;
-
Evaluate outcomes achieved during the implementation period against the Blueprint’s goals and objectives; and
-
Annually report on implementation progress to the Governor, legislature, and the public.
